Integrated multi-rail imaging system

Abstract

The imaging system can comprise a plurality of elongated rails, a scanhead assembly, and a small animal mount assembly. The scanhead assembly is selectively mounted onto a first rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The small-animal mount assembly is selectively mounted onto a second rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the second rail. The second rail being mounted relative to the first rail such that the longitudinal axis of the second rail is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the first rail. The imaging system can also comprise a needle injection assembly that is selectively mounted onto the third rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the third rail. The third rail being mounted relative to the second rail and the first rail such that the longitudinal axis of the third rail is substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the first rail.

1. An imaging system for imaging portions of small-animals, comprising;
 a plurality of elongated rails, the plurality of elongated rails including a first rail and a second rail, each rail having a proximal end, a spaced distal end, and a longitudinal axis, the proximal end of the first rail positioned proximate a first edge of the second rail intermediate the proximal end and distal end of the second rail, the longitudinal axis of the first rail at an angle about 150° to about 30° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second rail; 
 a scanhead assembly having a mount, the mount having a scanhead assembly base member that is selectively mounted onto the first rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the first rail; 
 a small-animal mount assembly comprising; 
 a. a table subassembly having a table member, the table member having a top surface, a bottom surface, and defining a table plane; and 
 b. a mount subassembly, the mount subassembly comprising:
 i. a mount assembly base member that is selectively mounted onto the second rail and is constructed and arranged for movement in a linear bi-directional manner along the longitudinal axis of the second rail; 
 ii. a planar platform having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a first axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second rail and a second axis normal to the first axis, the platform further defining a platform plane defined by the first axis and the second axis; and 
 iii. a platform adjustment mechanism constructed and arranged for moving the platform in the platform plane, the platform adjustment mechanism having a platform base and an adjustable armature, the platform base being connected to a portion of a top surface of the mount assembly base member and the armature being connected to a portion of an edge of the platform; and 
 iv. a table orientation control mechanism selectively positioned onto a portion of the upper surface of the planar platform, the table orientation control mechanism constructed and arranged for adjusting the table plane of the table member, wherein the orientation control mechanism includes a housing having a top and a bottom; and a magnetic lock housed partially within the housing and having a movable magnet, the magnetic lock movable from a retracted, non-engaged, position to an engaged position in which the magnet is brought into attractive contact with the upper surface of the platform.